Japan’s Takaichi faces backlash over US$190 victory gifts to ruling party lawmakers

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing mounting political pressure after revelations that she distributed congratulatory gift catalogues to all 315 lawmakers from her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) following their landslide election victory earlier this month. In a social media post, Takaichi explained the gifts were "an expression of appreciation for their success at this very tough election" and emphasized that no taxpayer money was used. However, the timing and nature of the gifts have sparked immediate controversy, with opposition leaders drawing direct parallels to the 2023 slush-fund scandal that engulfed the LDP and ultimately sank then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's administration.

Takaichi confirmed to parliament that each gift, including shipping and tax, cost approximately 30,000 yen ($190) per person and was paid for using political funds from a party branch she personally heads. The revelation has triggered a significant backlash, with Junya Ogawa, leader of the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, stating the news "could easily lead people to say, 'Prime Minister Takaichi, you too?'" This scandal emerges just as Takaichi has been riding a wave of popularity dubbed "sanamania" among younger voters. The situation represents a critical test for her new administration, as the 2023 scandal not only ended Kishida's tenure but also fueled voter anger that cost his successor's coalition its parliamentary majority.